Pakistan Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique Saturday said that all coaches of trains would be upgraded in the next three years under the upgradation plan.
Talking to the media after inauguration of the latest
upgraded rake of 9-up/10-Down Allama Iqbal Express train, which
runs between Karachi and Sialkot via Narowal, at Lahore Railway
Station, he said that the PR had spent Rs 1.5 billion from its
own resources on upgradation of trains and railway stations
so far.
He said that so far 636 coaches of major trains had been
upgraded while the state-of-the-art Okara railway station
building would be inaugurated on Monday. It would be the
second upgraded railway station which is being opened for
the public after Sibbi railway station.
He said that Raiwind junction railway station building
was about to complete whereas upgradation work on Bahawalpur,
Sahiwal, Nankana and Narowal railway stations was under way.
The minister said that rakes of Mehran Express, Khyber
Mail and Akbar Bugti Express trains would be upgraded till
June 2018.
“By taking steps regarding punctuality and with the
provision of facilities to passengers, trust in the railways
has been improved,” he added.
He said that two more dedicated tenure were needed for
complete rehabilitation of railways, as it had become a
destroyed department in 2013.
“But we have saved it from privatisation with the
efforts of railways workers and a good team of officers,” he
added.
He appreciated the role of employees. He said that PR
would cross the limit of Rs 50 billion revenue in June 2018.
He said that expenditures of the department had been
raised; however, there was a visible stability in the deficit
and earnings.
He said that construction work of the quarters for
employees was at the last stage and the current regime had
focused on lower staff instead of building houses for the
officers.
He hoped the next elected government would also work with
the same spirit for the railways.
To a question about cursing the parliament by Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Sheikh Rashid,
he said that all institutions had their respect as well the
parliament; therefore using abusive language for the parliament
by any politician meant cursing himself.
About work on Main Line-1 under China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor, the minister said that the PR administration did not
want any haste in upgradation of ML-1.
“Chinese are our friends but we have to be careful in
signing any agreement with them. That’s why a delegation of
four high-level officers are on making negotiations with the
Chinese side for and only those decisions would be made in
larger interest of Pakistan and railways,” he added.
He said that the PR was only interested in loans with
nominal mark up and long grace period which could be returned
easily.
Responding to a question about a proposed protest march by
Pir Hameedudin Sialvi, he said that some people got de-tracked
in the last phase of age, adding no one has right to test
someone’s faith.
To another question, he said no one would resign before
January 31 as whosoever would do so, he would be exposed in the
by-elections.
CEO Railways Javaid Anwar Boobak, Advisor to Minister Anjum
Pervaiz, AGM Traffic Abdul Hameed Razi and other senior
officers were present.

Source: APP